Emory is a phenomenal resident-focused program. I would be hard-pressed to name another program that is as academically prominent and clinically well balanced.
We spend about 30% of our residency at Grady Memorial managing Orthopaedic/Spine trauma (12 weeks as interns, 30 weeks as pgy-2, and 10 weeks per year thereafter). Grady is the only Level 1 Trauma center in the state and we see and do it all, beginning as interns. With about 5000 orthopaedic cases each year, the operative experience is unbelievable. It is hard work, with in house q4/5 call as an intern and a pgy-2 while on service. But the long hours are definitely worth the operative experience and autonomy. Moreover, Grady was recently restructured from bottom to top. There is a PACS, soon-to-start electronic order entry program, numerous firings/hirings, and many other changes already implemented or pending. It is a very easy place to work as compared to the past.
The remaining 70% of our time is spent at Children's Hospital and Emory Orthopaedic & Spine Center and Hospital (besides a rotation as a pgy-4 and 5 at the VA). These tertiary-care facilities are amazing and there is only home-call. The Orthopaedic & Spine hospital just opened a few months ago and has the best facilities I've ever seen. Flowers in the lobby, 80 single patient suites with hardwood floors and flat big screen TVs, 24 hour room service, 6 ORs, an ICU, orthopaedic hospitalists etc. All inpatient Adult Recon., Hand & Upper Extremity, Sports, and of course Spine occur here. 2000+ admissions are expected each year. Life is cake.
I couldn't be happier with the Emory Program. We have the big name faculty (Roberson, Flemming, Boden, Karas, X, Heller and on and on..) that are all pro-resident and love to teach. The residents are an incredible group and we all chill and go out together. Uniquely, its not the juniors that hang with juniors and the seniors with seniors. We all hang out together. The Chiefs/interns call the interns/chiefs to hit up the bar, play football, whatever. We are all friends and have tremendous pride in our program. Fellowship is obviously not a problem (Chiefs went to Rush-Sports, Steadman/Hawkins-Sports, Uwash-Hand, Uwash F&A, Carolinas-Trauma). I encourage anyone that wants to learn more to rotate at Emory.
